Written Answers Monday 27 March 2006

Scottish Executive

2014 Commonwealth Games

Linda Fabiani (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether resources allocated for the regeneration of the Clyde corridor will be spent on providing facilities for the Commonwealth Games 2014 if the bid is successful.

Malcolm Chisholm: Funds to provide facilities for the Commonwealth Games will not come from the regeneration budget. However, the regeneration of the Clyde Corridor, which is the Executive’s national regeneration priority, will assist the bid to host the Commonwealth Games.

2014 Commonwealth Games

Linda Fabiani (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether, in the event of a successful bid, funding for Commonwealth Games projects will come from resources already announced for regeneration projects in Glasgow.

Malcolm Chisholm: No. In the regeneration policy statement published on 28 February 2006, the Scottish Executive gave a commitment to provide start-up funding and further support for the establishment of an Urban Regeneration Company to take forward the Clyde Gateway regeneration initiative, which lies at the heart of Glasgow’s plans for the games. The Scottish Executive’s commitment to the Gateway, which comes on top of its other major investment in Glasgow, will stand whether or not the bid is successful.

Agriculture

Christine Grahame (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive which farms are affected by emergency prohibition orders related to the Chernobyl incident.

Lewis Macdonald: I am advised by the Food Standards Agency that 10 farms in Scotland, comprising nine in East Ayrshire Council Area and one in Stirling Council Area, are still subject to restrictions as a result of the Chernobyl incident. The restricted areas are defined in the Food Protection (Emergency Prohibitions) (Radioactivity in Sheep) Order 1991 No. 20 (as amended) and sheep from these farms are required to be monitored for radioactivity prior to being moved off farm.

Agriculture

Christine Grahame (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what restrictions emergency prohibition orders related to the Chernobyl incident place on affected farms.

Lewis Macdonald: I am advised by the Food Standards Agency that affected farms are subject to statutory controls under the terms of the Food and Environment Protection Act 1985 and the current restrictions are specified in the Food Protection (Emergency Prohibitions) (Radioactivity in Sheep) Order 1991 (SI 1991/20), as amended.

  In order to ensure food safety, a monitoring system known as "Mark and Release" is operated to ensure that sheep exceeding the 1,000 Becquerel per kilogram (Bq/kg) control level do not enter the food chain. Sheep from restricted areas are live-monitored for radioactivity using portable radiation monitors prior to being moved. Sheep exceeding the control level may either be kept on-farm and subsequently re-monitored; or marked with an indelible paint and moved under licence. Marked sheep are prohibited from slaughter for three months and a set rotation of colours under "Mark and Release" allows sheep to be automatically released from slaughter controls three months after the use of a particular colour ceases.

Care of Elderly People

Shona Robison (Dundee East) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive which local authorities operate waiting lists for people eligible for free personal care.

Shona Robison (Dundee East) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many people are on waiting lists for free personal care, broken down by local authority.

Lewis Macdonald: This information is currently being collected and collated. When this has been done I will write to the member to provide her with this information.

Dentistry

Roseanna Cunningham (Perth) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many dental laboratories there have been in each year since 1995.

Lewis Macdonald: Independent dental laboratories have no direct connection to the NHS. This data is therefore not held by the Scottish Executive.

Dentistry

Roseanna Cunningham (Perth) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many people have been employed in dental laboratories in each year since 1995.

Lewis Macdonald: This information is not held centrally.

Dentistry

Roseanna Cunningham (Perth) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how much funding has been provided for expanding research and development in dental laboratories in each year since 1995.

Lewis Macdonald: No resources have been allocated to expanding research and development in independent dental laboratories since 1995. Dental laboratories are independent businesses and have no formal links to the NHS.

Dentistry

Roseanna Cunningham (Perth) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how it funds training and continuous professional development for dental health professionals working in dental laboratories.

Lewis Macdonald: Scottish Executive funds training and continuing professional development for dental technicians through NHS Education Scotland as members of the dental team.

  Research highlights that many dental laboratory staff are difficult to recruit for Continuing Professional Development with only 47% of respondents attending an educational event within the preceding year.

Dentistry

Roseanna Cunningham (Perth) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive who regulates and maintains professional standards in dental laboratories in Scotland.

Lewis Macdonald: Until 2005 there was no regulation and no body charged with maintaining professional standards for dental technicians working in dental laboratories in the UK.

  Dental Laboratories register with the Medical Devices Agency.

  In 2005 a Section 60 Order was passed which gave the General Dental Council powers to regulate and ensure professional standards for registered dental technicians only. It will not regulate and maintain professional standards of dental laboratories.

  Responsibility for quality and standards of the appliance to be fitted lies with the dentist who fits the appliance for the patient.

Dentistry

Roseanna Cunningham (Perth) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what impact the introduction of the new dental surgeons’ contract will have on dental laboratories.

Roseanna Cunningham (Perth) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many dental laboratories it estimates will have to downsize or close completely within the two years following the introduction of the new dental surgeons’ contract.

Lewis Macdonald: The new dental surgeons’ contract has been introduced in England and Wales and does not apply to Scotland.

Dentistry

Roseanna Cunningham (Perth) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many redundancies there have been in dental laboratories since 1995.

Lewis Macdonald: This information is not held centrally. These are private independent small business from which we do not collect such information.

Dentistry

Roseanna Cunningham (Perth) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what proportion of work carried out in dental laboratories is undertaken for the NHS, broken down by year since 1995.

Lewis Macdonald: There is no contractual relationship between independent dental laboratories and the NHS. The contract is between independent dental practitioners and independent dental laboratories. No information is therefore held centrally on this issue.

Dentistry

Roseanna Cunningham (Perth) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many dentists have changed the laboratory to which they send work in the last three years.

Lewis Macdonald: This information is not held centrally. Independent dental practitioners are able to purchase dental appliances from any source worldwide.

Dentistry

Roseanna Cunningham (Perth) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to support and fund continued professional development among dental health professionals, in light of recent measures introduced elsewhere in the United Kingdom.

Lewis Macdonald: The Scottish Executive through NHS Education for Scotland, is investing significant and increasing levels of resource in the education, training and development of all dental care professionals as part of the Dental Action Plan.

Dentistry

Roseanna Cunningham (Perth) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many units of dental activity were carried out by dental laboratories in Scotland in each year since 1995.

Lewis Macdonald: Units of dental activity measures have been introduced in England and Wales as part of the new dental surgeon contract. There is no dental surgeon contract in Scotland. Information of units of dental activity is not therefore measured or collected in Scotland.

Dentistry

Brian Adam (Aberdeen North) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what the average fee per patient is, as recorded by the NHS Dental Practice Board.

Lewis Macdonald: This information is contained in appendix 2, table A10 of the Scottish Dental Practice Board Annual Report , which is available at:

  http://www.show.scot.nhs.uk/sdpb/Annual%20Report%20and%20Executive%20Summaries/SDPB_annual_report_2004-05.pdf.

Drug Enforcement Agency

Linda Fabiani (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what percentage of officers at each rank within (a) each police force and (b) the Scottish Drug Enforcement Agency (SDEA) have been female in each of the last 10 years.

Cathy Jamieson: The information requested is shown in the following tables.

  Percentage of Female Police Officers by Rank

  Central Scotland Police

  

 
 1995-96
 1996-97
 1997-98
 1998-99
 1999-2000


 Inspector
 7%
 3%
 3%
 3%
 6%


 Sergeant
 6%
 5%
 7%
 7%
 6%


 Constable
 16%
 16%
 17%
 16%
 16%



  

 
 2000-01
 2001-02
 2002-03
 2003-04
 2004-05


 ACC
 
 
 50%
 50%
 50%


 Chief Inspector
 9%
 7%
 7%
 7%
 11%


 Inspector
 3%
 5%
 7%
 11%
 8%


 Sergeant
 7%
 8%
 7%
 7%
 12%


 Constable
 18%
 18%
 20%
 22%
 24%



  Dumfries and Galloway Constabulary

  

 
 2000-01
 2001-02
 2002-03
 2003-04
 2004-05


 Chief Inspector
 
 
 
 11%
 10%


 Inspector
 10%
 9%
 8%
 4%
 11%


 Sergeant
 4%
 7%
 6%
 8%
 9%


 Constable
 24%
 24%
 24%
 26%
 25%



  Fife Constabulary

  

 
 1995-96
 1996-97
 1997-98
 1998-99
 1999-2000


 Superintendent
 13%
 11%
 11%
 11%
 


 Chief Inspector
 
 
 7%
 8%
 8%


 Inspector
 3%
 2%
 
 
 3%


 Sergeant
 4%
 4%
 5%
 5%
 4%


 Constable
 15%
 16%
 18%
 18%
 18%



  

 
 2000-01
 2001-02
 2002-03
 2003-04
 2004-05


 Chief Inspector
 8%
 7%
 6%
 5%
 


 Inspector
 3%
 3%
 7%
 9%
 7%


 Sergeant
 4%
 3%
 4%
 8%
 11%


 Constable
 20%
 21%
 22%
 24%
 24%



  Grampian Police

  

 
 1995-96
 1996-97
 1997-98
 1998-99
 1999-2000


 Chief Inspector
 
 
 
 5%
 10%


 Inspector
 3%
 3%
 3%
 4%
 3%


 Sergeant
 5%
 5%
 6%
 6%
 7%


 Constable
 18%
 19%
 20%
 20%
 21%



  

 
 2000-01
 2001-02
 2002-03
 2003-04
 2004-05


 Superintendent
 
 6%
 6%
 5%
 4%


 Chief Inspector
 10%
 
 
 
 8%


 Inspector
 2%
 4%
 6%
 9%
 9%


 Sergeant
 11%
 11%
 14%
 15%
 15%


 Constable
 22%
 25%
 22%
 25%
 25%



  Lothian and Borders Police

  

 
 1995-96
 1996-97
 1997-98
 1998-99
 1999-2000


 Superintendent
 
 3%
 3%
 6%
 6%


 Chief Inspector
 
 5%
 5%
 3%
 8%


 Inspector
 3%
 2%
 2%
 4%
 2%


 Sergeant
 5%
 7%
 8%
 8%
 8%


 Constable
 18%
 17%
 17%
 18%
 18%



  

 
 2000-01
 2001-02
 2002-03
 2003-04
 2004-05


 Superintendent
 7%
 9%
 3%
 5%
 5%


 Chief Inspector
 9%
 7%
 4%
 6%
 8%


 Inspector
 5%
 6%
 7%
 8%
 8%


 Sergeant
 8%
 8%
 9%
 11%
 13%


 Constable
 19%
 20%
 21%
 21%
 22%



  Northern Constabulary

  

 
 1995-96
 1996-97
 1997-98
 1998-99
 1999-2000


 Inspector
 3%
 
 
 
 


 Sergeant
 5%
 2%
 3%
 4%
 5%


 Constable
 18%
 13%
 14%
 16%
 17%



  

 
 2000-01
 2001-02
 2002-03
 2003-04
 2004-05


 Inspector
 3%
 3%
 3%
 5%
 6%


 Sergeant
 6%
 7%
 8%
 8%
 11%


 Constable
 20%
 21%
 22%
 24%
 26%



  Strathclyde Police

  

 
 1995-96
 1996-97
 1997-98
 1998-99
 1999-2000


 Chief Superintendent
 
 
 
 14%
 14%


 Superintendent
 
 2%
 4%
 4%
 4%


 Chief Inspector
 
 6%
 4%
 4%
 7%


 Inspector
 3%
 3%
 3%
 3%
 3%


 Sergeant
 5%
 6%
 6%
 7%
 7%


 Constable
 18%
 16%
 18%
 18%
 19%



  

 
 2000-01
 2001-02
 2002-03
 2003-04
 2004-05


 ACC
 20%
 17%
 14%
 17%
 14%


 Chief Superintendent
 
 
 
 
 9%


 Superintendent
 5%
 5%
 6%
 8%
 


 Chief Inspector
 7%
 9%
 7%
 5%
 6%


 Inspector
 4%
 6%
 7%
 8%
 9%


 Sergeant
 8%
 8%
 10%
 11%
 12%


 Constable
 20%
 21%
 22%
 23%
 24%



  Tayside Police

  

 
 1995-96
 1996-97
 1997-98
 1998-99
 1999-2000


 Superintendent
 
 
 
 7%
 13%


 Chief Inspector
 
 7%
 8%
 
 6%


 Inspector
 3%
 2%
 4%
 5%
 5%


 Sergeant
 5%
 8%
 7%
 7%
 8%


 Constable
 18%
 17%
 18%
 20%
 21%



  

 
 2000-01
 2001-02
 2002-03
 2003-04
 2004-05


 Superintendent
 6%
 8%
 14%
 14%
 13%


 Chief Inspector
 13%
 12%
 15%
 16%
 20%


 Inspector
 4%
 4%
 4%
 6%
 9%


 Sergeant
 8%
 8%
 7%
 9%
 7%


 Constable
 23%
 24%
 24%
 25%
 26%



  SDEA

  

 
 2000-01
 2001-02
 2002-03
 2003-04
 2004-05


 Chief/Superintendent
 
 
 
 33%
 33%


 Sergeant
 6%
 10%
 8%
 9%
 6%


 Constable
 15%
 13%
 11%
 16%
 14%

Drug Enforcement Agency

Linda Fabiani (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many female officers have been recruited into each rank within (a) each police force and (b) the Scottish Drug Enforcement Agency (SDEA) in the last year.

Cathy Jamieson: The information for the latest year available is shown in the following table.

  No. of Female officers Recruited in 2004-05

  

 Central
 24


 Dumfries and Galloway
 8


 Fife
 20


 Grampian
 34


 Lothian and Borders
 63


 Northern
 18


 Strathclyde
 178


 Tayside
 26


 Total
 371



  All recruits to the police service are appointed at the rank of Constable.

  In 2004-05 three serving female officers were seconded from forces to the SDEA, at the rank of Chief Inspector, Sergeant and Constable.

EU Water Framework Directive

Nora Radcliffe (Gordon) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will provide an update on its progress in implementing the EU Water Framework Directive.

Rhona Brankin: I am publishing today the third annual report outlining our progress in implementing the Water Framework Directive: Implementation of the Water Environment and Water Services (Scotland) Act 2003 – Annual Report to the Scottish Parliament - 2005. I am placing copies of this document in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (Bib. number 39123).

Education

Mr Bruce McFee (West of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether pupils will continue to be educated in huts once the new schools planned under Inverclyde Council’s proposed reorganisation of its secondary education have been completed and, if so, whether the huts will be wind and watertight.

Mr Bruce McFee (West of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is aware that schoolchildren in Inverclyde could continue to be educated in huts if the new schools planned under Inverclyde Council’s proposed reorganisation of its secondary education are unable to accommodate the schools’ rolls.

Mr Bruce McFee (West of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it considers that it is acceptable for schoolchildren to be educated in huts.

Mr Bruce McFee (West of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what impact it considers that overcrowding will have on the reported outstanding results of schools in Inverclyde.

Peter Peacock: The statutory responsibility for the provision of school accommodation in Inverclyde, including its planning, its nature – whether permanent or temporary - and its fitness for purpose, rests entirely with Inverclyde Council.

Education

Mr Bruce McFee (West of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether Inverclyde Council’s proposals for the reorganisation of secondary education conform with the Executive’s guidance on options appraisal.

Peter Peacock: The Scottish Executive guidance Option Appraisal,  in the  Building our Future: Scotland’s School Estate  series of publications, outlines the principal advantages of the option appraisal approach to decision making. It does not set out a rigid process with which authorities are obliged to conform.

Education

Mr Bruce McFee (West of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether the Minister for Education and Young People has read the options appraisal produced by Inverclyde Council in respect of its proposed reorganisation of secondary education and, if so, what the minister’s response is to the appraisal.

Peter Peacock: The Scottish Executive has considered the option appraisal submitted by Inverclyde Council in the context of the financial support the Executive has offered to the council for a schools PPP project. Such option appraisals are not formally responded to.

Education

Mr Bruce McFee (West of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether the Scottish Qualifications Authority will take into account the impact on education of any proposed temporary decants resulting from the Inverclyde Council’s proposals for reorganising its secondary accommodation.

Peter Peacock: The operation of the examination system is a matter for the Scottish Qualifications Authority. It is for Inverclyde Council to plan and manage its secondary schools reorganisation in a way that enables it to fulfil its statutory duties for the provision of school education.

Education

Mr Bruce McFee (West of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it can confirm reports that some children in Inverclyde could have four school changes under Inverclyde Council’s proposals for the reorganisation of its secondary education.

Peter Peacock: The Scottish Executive is unaware of any such reports.

Education

Mr Bruce McFee (West of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it agrees with comments in The Herald on 20 January 2006 that Scottish schools should copy Inverclyde schools which consistently produce outstanding results for all sections of the community.

Peter Peacock: There is clearly much good practice within Scotland’s schools, including those of Inverclyde. We continue to look for ways to help schools and authorities learn from existing good practice and Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Education are currently taking forward work in this area.

Education

Mr Bruce McFee (West of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is satisfied that sufficient resources will be available in Inverclyde to meet education needs for the next 20 years.

Peter Peacock: The local government finance settlement is currently confirmed until the year 2007-08. The spending review scheduled for 2007 will consider resources for the three years following that.

Education

Fiona Hyslop (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what the average age of new entrants to the General Teaching Register has been in each of the last five years.

Peter Peacock: The information is set out in the following table:

  

 Year
 Average Age (In Years)


 January – December 2001
 34.72


 January – December 2002
 33.29


 January – December 2003
 32.51


 January – December 2004
 31.76


 January – December 2005
 30.52

Education

Fiona Hyslop (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it is taking to persuade young students and graduates into a teaching career.

Peter Peacock: Over the last year and a half we have significantly increased the level of our teacher recruitment activity. This has included targeting students and graduates. Our recent advertising and promotional work has been in addition to the work of our teacher recruitment team that regularly visits careers fairs and universities to publicise and promote teaching in Scotland as a career. Indicators of the effectiveness of our campaign include:

  The average number of hits on the Teaching in Scotland website has increased from 10,500 per month (January to March 2005) to over 33,100 per month (October to December 2005) - an increase of approx. 216%.

  There has also been a significant increase in the number of enquiries posted on the Teaching in Scotland mailbox - up from 20 per month in early 2005 to 182 per month in December 2005.

  In 2005, 1,465 teachers from outwith Scotland registered with the General Teaching Council for Scotland, compared with 1,051 in 2004.

Education

Fiona Hyslop (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how it will fund the Leadership for Learning Initiative.

Peter Peacock: The Leadership for Learning programme is run by Learning and Teaching Scotland. It began in January 2004 as a development of the ICT Masterclass programme aimed specifically at head teachers and now has over 700 participants. The programme is paid for out of the grant provided to Learning and Teaching Scotland for the operation of the ICT Masterclass programme.

Education

Fiona Hyslop (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how it ensures that money allocated for providing support staff in schools has been used for that purpose.

Peter Peacock: The Scottish Executive is currently investing overall approximately £93 million per year in the employment of additional support staff in schools through the core local government finance settlement. This comprises of £36 million from 2002 for the classroom assistants initiative, £50 million from 2003 for additional support staff under the Teachers’ Agreement and £6.9 million additional funding for support staff in 2005-06. It is for local authorities to determine how these funds are used in light of local need.

  In addition, officials wrote to all Directors of Education on 24 January 2005 advising them that additional funding of £7.5 million in 2005-06, £11.3 million in 2006-07 and £17.1 million in 2007-08 would be made available to local authorities through the National Priorities Action Fund to employ additional support staff to improve discipline and behaviour in schools. The letter also offered guidance on the ways in which this funding could be used. I am arranging for a copy of this letter to be made available in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (Bib. number 39197).

Education

Mr Adam Ingram (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will endorse the nine-point plan by Professor Tom Devine to improve understanding amongst students of Scotland’s history and the nation’s place in the world.

Peter Peacock: The curriculum in Scotland is not based on statutory prescription. It is for schools, in light of the curriculum framework within which they operate, to determine how best to organise the syllabus for all subjects, including history, in schools.

  A key feature of the curriculum review is that the curriculum should enable all young people to develop knowledge and understanding of the world and Scotland’s place in it. The Executive welcomes Professor Devine’s suggestions as a contribution to the debate on how the teaching of history can contribute to this end.

Education Department

Mr Bruce McFee (West of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether significant adjustment has been made to the school roll projections for individual schools involved in Inverclyde Council’s proposed reorganisation of its secondary education and, if so, what level of adjustment has been made.

Peter Peacock: Education authorities keep school roll projections under regular review and factor changes into their plans for the future. How this is done and how frequently is a matter for the individual authority.

European Funding

Bruce Crawford (Mid Scotland and Fife) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what it estimates that the total sum of European Structural Fund spending will be in Scotland in financial years 2005-06 and 2006-07, broken down by programme.

Allan Wilson: The Commission’s financial year runs calendar yearly. The information available is the amount in pounds sterling allocated under European Structural Funds for the year 2005, broken down by programme, which totals £161,513,246.

  

 East ERDF
 South ERDF
 West ERDF
 West ESF
 Objective 3
 H & I ERDF
 H & I ESF
 Urban II
 Leader+


 25,123,094
 7,865,666
 42,031,336
 5,991,833
 53,518,387
 20,582,225
 4,108,291
 1,553,255
 739,159



  As we are currently still within the 2000-06 programming period, the full allocation for all Scottish programmes has not yet been disbursed. At current exchange rates, the total funding package equates to £1.156 billion, of which £676 million has already been disbursed in the current programming period. The disbursed figure can change on a daily basis and is influenced by the exchange rate, repayment of funds and decommitment of funds.

  New financial spend targets have been introduced in 2000-06, by which the full sum of any one year’s allocations must be spent within two years of the allocation year or risk automatic de-commitment (referred to as "N+2").

Housing

Tommy Sheridan (Glasgow) (SSP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many homes in the (a) local authority, (b) social rented and (c) private rented sector fail to meet the Scottish Housing Quality Standard and what action is being taken, and within what timescale, to bring these homes up to the Scottish Housing Quality Standard.

Malcolm Chisholm: I have asked Angiolina Foster, Chief Executive of Communities Scotland, to respond. Her response is as follows:

  The most reliable source of figures currently available for the Scottish Housing Quality Standard is the 2002 Scottish House Condition Survey. It estimated that in 2002 the following (approximate) number of dwellings failed to meet the Housing Quality Standard:

  

 Local Authority
 336,000


 Housing Association/Co-operative
 165,000


 Private rented sector
 143,000



  All landlords in the social rented sector are required to ensure that all of their dwellings meet the Scottish Housing Quality Standard by 2015 and were required to submit Scottish Housing Quality Standard Delivery Plans to Communities Scotland detailing their approach to this in April 2005.

  Although the initial assessment process is complete, Communities Scotland continues to liaise with landlords to address gaps in the data and has agreed that some plans can be resubmitted when better stock condition information is available. Exact figures on the number of dwellings failing to meet the SHQS will be available when this process is complete.

Housing

Ms Sandra White (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what level of response it has had to the consultation on regulations under section 7 of the Housing (Scotland) Act 2001.

Malcolm Chisholm: Forty-six written responses were received to this consultation paper. Scottish Executive officials also met with members of the Scottish Housing Best Value Network, Glasgow City Council and B&B providers in Glasgow as part of the consultation process. The Homelessness Monitoring Group has considered the outcomes of the consultation and recommended that Scottish Executive officials meet with stakeholder groups to discuss some of the issues arising – these meetings are currently being carried out.

Justice

Margaret Mitchell (Central Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what the average cost was of issuing and enforcing a means warrant in each of the last five years.

Cathy Jamieson: Means warrants are issued in respect of fines that are not paid in accordance with the terms set by the court when the fine was imposed, to ensure that action is taken against those who default on fine payment. Means warrants are currently issued in around a third of cases. Historical information on the cost of enforcing means warrants is not available. For the courts, the issue of a warrant represents a marginal part of the overall process. The specific costs are difficult to isolate but are estimated to be no more than £10 per case. The main costs accrue to the police but figures for these are not available. In the two-thirds of cases where fines are paid without the need for a means warrant the cost to the system is likely to be significantly lower.

Justice

Carolyn Leckie (Central Scotland) (SSP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-23632 by Cathy Jamieson on 13 March 2006, what the Minister for Justice’s policy intentions are in relation to pre-recorded messages and whether the minister is satisfied that the Executive is not at risk of a successful legal challenge.

Cathy Jamieson: I have asked Tony Cameron, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service to respond. His response is as follows:

  The pre-recorded telephone message is a proportionate measure to ensure the prevention of crime and the protection of victims. We intend to keep it. The outcome of any legal challenge would be for the court to decide but we are confident that the measure is "in accordance with the law" and "necessary in a democratic society" and has a lawful aim as required under Article 8 of the European Convention on Human Rights.

Justice

Alex Neil (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-23578 by Cathy Jamieson on 13 March 2006, whether the tribunal revisited the decision by the then Lord Advocate not to prosecute the person who allegedly carried out the assault.

Alex Neil (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-23578 by Cathy Jamieson on 13 March 2006, whether the tribunal was set up as a result of concerns expressed by the public about the Lord Advocate’s decision not to prosecute the person who allegedly carried out the assault.

Colin Boyd QC: The Inquiry’s remit did not cover the decision not to prosecute any of the officers involved. In explaining why it was inappropriate to examine the decisions of the prosecutor, the then Prime Minister, Mr Harold McMillan, stated:

  "It is an established principle of Government in this country, and a tradition long supported by all political parties, that the decision as to whether any citizen should be prosecuted, or whether any prosecution should be discontinued, should be a matter where a public as opposed to a private prosecution is concerned, for the prosecuting authorities to decide on the merits of the case without political or other pressure.

  "It would be a most dangerous deviation from this sound principle if a prosecution were to be instituted or abandoned as a result of political pressure or popular clamour. In this case, my Right Hon and Learned Friend the Lord Advocate decided, after considering the evidence before him, that criminal proceedings would not be justified.

  "In reaching his decisions the Lord Advocate’s duty in Scotland, like the Attorney-General’s in England, is to act in a quasi-judicial capacity, whether the person involved is a public functionary or a private citizen".

  (Hansard HC Deb, 16 February 1959, col 31.).

Justice

Margaret Mitchell (Central Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how many fines were recovered by civil diligence in each year since 1997 and what proportion these represented of the total number of fines imposed, broken down by sheriff court.

Cathy Jamieson: The following tables report on the number of fines ordered by the sheriff courts to be recovered by civil diligence as a proportion of fines imposed. It is not possible to report on the amounts recovered.

  The method of payment of the fine is for the court to decide. In most cases involving individuals the court will make an instalment order or allow a fixed period for payment. Civil diligence is generally applied only in cases involving companies.

  

Court
1997
1998
1999


Civil Diligence
Fines Imposed
% Civil Diligence
Civil Diligence
Fines Imposed
% Civil Diligence
Civil Diligence
Fines Imposed
% Civil Diligence


Aberdeen
1
4,308
0%
1
4674
0%
3
2935
0.1%


Airdrie
1
2,003
0%
0
1854
0%
1
1540
0.1%


Alloa
0
521
0%
0
500
0%
0
392
0%


Arbroath
0
831
0%
0
842
0%
0
685
0%


Ayr
0
2,401
0%
0
2237
0%
1
1552
0.1%


Banff
0
443
0%
0
379
0%
1
369
0.3%


Campbeltown
0
220
0%
0
199
0%
0
150
0%


Cupar
1
658
0.2%
0
520
0%
0
414
0%


Dingwall
7
693
1.0%
0
510
0%
1
321
0.3%


Dornoch
0
188
0%
0
140
0%
0
109
0%


Dumbarton
1
1,761
0.1%
1
1548
0.1%
0
1101
0%


Dumfries
2
1,600
0.1%
0
1708
0%
0
1588
0%


Dundee
2
2,254
0.1%
5
2066
0.2%
1
1647
0.1%


Dunfermline
1
1,831
0.1%
0
1410
0%
0
1183
0%


Dunoon
0
493
0%
2
394
0.5%
0
184
0%


Duns
0
161
0%
0
119
0%
0
130
0%


Edinburgh
0
9,428
0%
4
8908
0%
2
5336
0%


Elgin
0
1,069
0%
0
1232
0%
0
851
0%


Falkirk
1
1,830
0.1%
1
1661
0.1%
3
1349
0.2%


Forfar
0
582
0%
0
577
0%
0
430
0%


Fort William
0
566
0%
0
359
0%
1
215
0.5%


Glasgow
0
6,779
0%
2
7512
0%
0
5071
0%


Greenock
5
1,244
0.4%
0
1137
0%
0
793
0%


Haddington
0
582
0%
0
627
0%
0
575
0%


Hamilton
1
5,213
0%
3
4470
0.1%
4
2748
0.1%


Inverness
0
1,553
0%
0
1442
0%
1
1145
0.1%


Jedburgh
0
256
0%
0
210
0%
0
226
0%


Kilmarnock
0
3,369
0%
0
3177
0%
2
2396
0.1%


Kirkcaldy
0
2,181
0%
2
2112
0.1%
0
1375
0%


Kirkcudbright
0
549
0%
0
388
0%
0
391
0%


Kirkwall
0
283
0%
0
334
0%
1
242
0.4%


Lanark
0
1,214
0%
0
1031
0%
3
819
0.4%


Lerwick
1
408
0.2%
0
412
0%
0
306
0%


Linlithgow
6
2,299
0.3%
0
1923
0%
1
1571
0.1%


Lochmaddy
0
119
0%
0
100
0%
0
83
0%


Oban
4
360
1.1%
0
322
0%
0
301
0%


Paisley
2
3,659
0.1%
1
3168
0%
3
1952
0.2%


Peebles
0
180
0%
0
152
0%
0
108
0%


Perth
0
1,962
0%
1
1790
0.1%
0
1212
0%


Peterhead
0
1,024
0%
0
927
0%
0
550
0%


Portree
0
113
0%
0
61
0%
0
66
0%


Rothesay
0
108
0%
0
66
0%
0
63
0%


Selkirk
0
282
0%
0
294
0%
0
232
0%


Stirling
0
1,509
0%
1
1203
0.1%
1
775
0.1%


Stonehaven
4
1,218
0.3%
2
875
0.2%
5
535
0.9%


Stornoway
0
368
0%
0
343
0%
0
203
0%


Stranraer
0
1,355
0%
0
1251
0%
0
814
0%


Tain
0
412
0%
0
560
0%
0
384
0%


Wick
0
403
0%
0
313
0%
0
182
0%


Total
40
72,843
0.05%
26
68037
0.04%
35
47599
0.07%



  

Court
2000
2001
2002


Civil Diligence
Fines Imposed
% Civil Diligence
Civil Diligence
Fines Imposed
% Civil Diligence
Civil Diligence
Fines Imposed
% Civil Diligence


Aberdeen
2
2,425
0.1%
0
2,555
0%
0
2,602
0%


Airdrie
2
1,282
0.2%
1
1,443
0.1%
1
1,473
0.1%


Alloa
0
426
0%
0
463
0%
0
471
0%


Arbroath
0
684
0%
0
724
0%
0
1,477
0%


Ayr
1
1,568
0.1%
0
1,415
0%
0
760
0%


Banff
0
344
0%
0
369
0%
0
375
0%


Campbeltown
0
152
0%
0
161
0%
0
164
0%


Cupar
0
401
0%
0
458
0%
0
489
0%


Dingwall
0
314
0%
0
300
0%
0
301
0%


Dornoch
0
109
0%
0
110
0%
0
110
0%


Dumbarton
1
1,078
0.1%
0
1,051
0%
0
1,091
0%


Dumfries
0
1,380
0%
0
1,226
0%
0
1,255
0%


Dundee
0
1,651
0%
0
1,871
0%
0
1,974
0%


Dunfermline
1
1,229
0.1%
0
1,241
0%
1
1,278
0%


Dunoon
0
200
0%
0
207
0%
0
216
0%


Duns
0
37
0%
0
60
0%
0
62
0%


Edinburgh
1
5,284
0%
5
5,316
0.1%
3
5,484
0.1%


Elgin
0
699
0%
0
834
0%
0
861
0%


Falkirk
0
1,408
0%
2
1,424
0.1%
1
1,536
0.1%


Forfar
0
410
0%
0
436
0%
0
475
0%


Fort William
0
174
0%
0
237
0%
0
242
0%


Glasgow
11
4,378
0.3%
0
4,775
0%
0
4,904
0%


Greenock
0
716
0%
1
622
0.2%
0
653
0%


Haddington
0
506
0%
0
569
0%
1
592
0%


Hamilton
0
2,793
0%
0
2,977
0%
0
3,030
0%


Inverness
0
1,019
0%
0
1,228
0%
0
1,269
0%


Jedburgh
0
341
0%
0
380
0%
0
401
0%


Kilmarnock
2
1,973
0.1%
0
2,090
0%
1
2,161
0%


Kirkcaldy
0
1,417
0%
0
1,575
0%
1
1,643
0%


Kirkcudbright
0
241
0%
0
162
0%
0
165
0%


Kirkwall
0
176
0%
0
181
0%
1
186
1%


Lanark
1
732
0.1%
0
735
0%
0
751
0%


Lerwick
0
246
0%
0
221
0%
1
239
0%


Linlithgow
0
1,583
0%
0
1,762
0%
1
1,804
0%


Lochmaddy
0
63
0%
0
66
0%
0
69
0%


Oban
0
251
0%
0
232
0%
0
251
0%


Paisley
1
1,607
0.1%
0
1,617
0%
0
1,694
0%


Peebles
0
125
0%
0
142
0%
0
144
0%


Perth
0
1,039
0%
1
1,395
0.1%
0
1,428
0%


Peterhead
0
445
0%
0
537
0%
0
545
0%


Portree
0
50
0%
0
74
0%
0
75
0%


Rothesay
0
67
0%
0
97
0%
0
105
0%


Selkirk
0
246
0%
0
302
0%
0
316
0%


Stirling
1
796
0.1%
0
955
0%
0
1,001
0%


Stonehaven
2
366
0.5%
0
400
0%
0
404
0%


Stornoway
0
135
0%
0
182
0%
0
184
0%


Stranraer
0
681
0%
0
687
0%
1
691
0%


Tain
0
311
0%
1
329
0.3%
0
347
0%


Wick
0
228
0%
0
279
0%
0
283
0%


Total
26
43,786
0.06%
11
46,472
0.02%
13
48,031
0.03%



  

Court
2003
2004
2005


Civil Diligence
Fines Imposed
% Civil Diligence
Civil Diligence
Fines Imposed
% Civil Diligence
Civil Diligence
Fines Imposed
% Civil Diligence


Aberdeen
0
3,063
0%
0
2,518
0%
2
2,540
0.1%


Airdrie
0
1,478
0%
0
1,477
0%
0
1,520
0%


Alloa
0
502
0%
0
560
0%
0
524
0%


Arbroath
1
740
0.1%
0
704
0%
0
578
0%


Ayr
0
1,539
0%
1
1,429
0.1%
0
1,192
0%


Banff
0
367
0%
0
296
0%
0
238
0%


Campbeltown
0
162
0%
0
187
0%
0
189
0%


Cupar
0
461
0%
0
378
0%
0
385
0%


Dingwall
0
393
0%
0
363
0%
0
349
0%


Dornoch
0
114
0%
0
108
0%
0
96
0%


Dumbarton
0
992
0%
0
1,143
0%
0
1,124
0%


Dumfries
0
1,287
0%
0
1,862
0%
0
1,619
0%


Dundee
0
2,234
0%
0
2,158
0%
1
1,515
0.1%


Dunfermline
0
1,239
0%
0
1,107
0%
0
1,030
0%


Dunoon
0
246
0%
0
223
0%
0
213
0%


Duns
0
208
0%
0
197
0%
0
205
0%


Edinburgh
0
4,480
0%
0
4,340
0%
0
4,142
0%


Elgin
0
866
0%
0
954
0%
1
898
0.1%


Falkirk
0
1,563
0%
0
1,592
0%
0
1,231
0%


Forfar
0
606
0%
0
621
0%
0
408
0%


Fort William
0
221
0%
0
297
0%
0
316
0%


Glasgow
1
3,432
0.03%
10
3,630
0.3%
2
4,151
0%


Greenock
0
833
0%
2
763
0.3%
1
672
0.1%


Haddington
0
542
0%
0
448
0%
0
451
0%


Hamilton
0
2,878
0%
0
3,188
0%
0
2,936
0%


Inverness
0
1,335
0%
0
1,429
0%
0
1,238
0%


Jedburgh
0
343
0%
0
406
0%
0
420
0%


Kilmarnock
2
2,101
0.1%
0
2,326
0%
1
2,257
0%


Kirkcaldy
0
1,400
0%
0
1,419
0%
0
1,207
0%


Kirkcudbright
0
257
0%
0
238
0%
0
237
0%


Kirkwall
0
206
0%
0
192
0%
0
154
0%


Lanark
0
596
0%
0
550
0%
0
495
0%


Lerwick
0
306
0%
4
295
1.4%
9
232
3.9%


Linlithgow
1
1,457
0.1%
0
1,322
0%
4
1,268
0.3%


Lochmaddy
0
44
0%
0
68
0%
0
61
0%


Oban
0
262
0%
0
245
0%
0
235
0%


Paisley
0
1,592
0%
0
1,630
0%
0
1,567
0%


Peebles
0
113
0%
0
147
0%
0
153
0%


Perth
0
1,718
0%
0
1,649
0%
0
1,285
0%


Peterhead
0
557
0%
1
649
0.2%
2
705
0.3%


Portree
0
57
0%
0
87
0%
0
82
0%


Rothesay
0
68
0%
0
107
0%
0
82
0%


Selkirk
0
332
0%
0
379
0%
0
426
0%


Stirling
0
1,097
0%
0
1,107
0%
0
997
0%


Stonehaven
0
405
0%
1
341
0.3%
0
327
0%


Stornoway
0
218
0%
0
199
0%
0
201
0%


Stranraer
0
546
0%
0
666
0%
0
699
0%


Tain
0
330
0%
0
344
0%
0
284
0%


Wick
0
346
0%
0
267
0%
0
207
0%


Total
5
46,132
0.01%
19
46,605
0.04%
23
43,341
0.05%

Justice

Margaret Mitchell (Central Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how many fines were recovered by deductions from benefits in each year since 1997 and what proportion these represented of the total number of fines imposed, broken down by sheriff court.

Cathy Jamieson: The following tables report on the number of fines marked for recovery by deductions from benefits as a proportion of fines imposed. It is not possible to report on the amounts recovered.

  

Court
1997
1998
1999


Attachment Orders
No. of fines
Attachment Orders %
Attachment Orders
No. of Fines
Attachment Orders %
Attachment Orders
No. of Fines
Attachment Orders %


Aberdeen
1
4,308
0%
2
4,674
0%
9
2,935
0.3%


Airdrie
1
2,003
0%
0
1,854
0%
0
1,540
0%


Alloa
0
521
0%
2
500
0.4%
4
392
1%


Arbroath
0
831
0%
0
842
0%
0
685
0%


Ayr
0
2,401
0%
0
2,237
0%
0
1,552
0%


Banff
0
443
0%
0
379
0%
0
369
0%


Campbeltown
0
220
0%
0
199
0%
0
150
0%


Cupar
1
658
0.2%
0
520
0%
3
414
1%


Dingwall
7
693
1.0%
0
510
0%
0
321
0%


Dornoch
0
188
0%
0
140
0%
0
109
0%


Dumbarton
0
1,761
0%
0
1,548
0%
0
1,101
0%


Dumfries
2
1,600
0.1%
0
1,708
0%
0
1,588
0%


Dundee
2
2,254
0.1%
10
2,066
0.5%
9
1,647
0.5%


Dunfermline
1
1,831
0.1%
2
1,410
0.1%
9
1,183
1%


Dunoon
0
493
0%
0
394
0%
0
184
0%


Duns
0
161
0%
0
119
0%
0
130
0%


Edinburgh
0
9,428
0%
10
8,908
0.1%
6
5,336
0%


Elgin
0
1,069
0%
0
1,232
0%
0
851
0%


Falkirk
1
1,830
0.1%
0
1,661
0%
0
1,349
0%


Forfar
0
582
0%
0
577
0%
0
430
0%


Fort William
0
566
0%
0
359
0%
0
215
0%


Glasgow
0
6,779
0%
1
7,512
0%
0
5,071
0%


Greenock
5
1,244
0.4%
0
1,137
0%
0
793
0%


Haddington
0
582
0%
0
627
0%
0
575
0%


Hamilton
1
5,213
0%
0
4,470
0%
0
2,748
0%


Inverness
0
1,553
0%
0
1,442
0%
0
1,145
0%


Jedburgh
0
256
0%
0
210
0%
0
226
0%


Kilmarnock
0
3,369
0%
0
3,177
0%
0
2,396
0%


Kirkcaldy
0
2,181
0%
5
2,112
0.2%
0
1,375
0%


Kirkcudbright
0
549
0%
0
388
0%
0
391
0%


Kirkwall
0
283
0%
0
334
0%
0
242
0%


Lanark
0
1,214
0%
0
1,031
0%
0
819
0%


Lerwick
1
408
0.2%
0
412
0%
0
306
0%


Linlithgow
6
2,299
0.3%
9
1,923
0.5%
34
1,571
2.2%


Lochmaddy
0
119
0%
0
100
0%
0
83
0%


Oban
4
360
1.1%
0
322
0%
0
301
0%


Paisley
2
3,659
0.1%
0
3,168
0%
0
1,952
0%


Peebles
0
180
0%
0
152
0%
1
108
1%


Perth
1
1,962
0.1%
0
1,790
0%
0
1,212
0%


Peterhead
0
1,024
0%
0
927
0%
0
550
0%


Portree
0
113
0%
0
61
0%
0
66
0%


Rothesay
0
108
0%
0
66
0%
0
63
0%


Selkirk
0
282
0%
0
294
0%
0
232
0%


Stirling
0
1,509
0%
0
1,203
0%
0
775
0%


Stonehaven
4
1,218
0.3%
1
875
0.1%
0
535
0%


Stornoway
0
368
0%
0
343
0%
0
203
0%


Stranraer
0
1,355
0%
0
1,251
0%
0
814
0%


Tain
0
412
0%
0
560
0%
0
384
0%


Wick
0
403
0%
0
313
0%
0
182
0%


Total
40
72,843
0.1%
42
68,037
0.06%
75
47,599
0.2%



  

Court
2000
2001
2002


Attachment Orders
No. of Fines
Attachment Orders %
Attachment Orders
No. of Fines
Attachment Orders %
Attachment Orders
No. of Fines
Attachment Orders %


Aberdeen
8
2,425
0.3%
2
2,555
0%
2
2,602
0%


Airdrie
0
1,282
0%
0
1,443
0%
0
1,473
0%


Alloa
2
426
0%
4
463
1%
0
471
0%


Arbroath
0
684
0%
0
724
0%
0
1,477
0%


Ayr
0
1,568
0%
0
1,415
0%
0
760
0%


Banff
0
344
0%
0
369
0%
0
375
0%


Campbeltown
0
152
0%
0
161
0%
0
164
0%


Cupar
7
401
2%
0
458
0%
0
489
0%


Dingwall
0
314
0%
0
300
0%
0
301
0%


Dornoch
0
109
0%
0
110
0%
0
110
0%


Dumbarton
0
1,078
0%
0
1,051
0%
0
1,091
0%


Dumfries
9
1,380
1%
15
1,226
1%
6
1,255
0%


Dundee
7
1,651
0%
0
1,871
0%
3
1,974
0%


Dunfermline
11
1,229
0.9%
7
1,241
1%
7
1,278
1%


Dunoon
0
200
0%
0
207
0%
0
216
0%


Duns
0
37
0%
0
60
0%
0
62
0%


Edinburgh
3
5,284
0%
2
5,316
0%
2
5,484
0%


Elgin
0
699
0%
0
834
0%
0
861
0%


Falkirk
0
1,408
0%
0
1,424
0%
0
1,536
0%


Forfar
0
410
0%
1
436
0%
0
475
0%


Fort William
0
174
0%
0
237
0%
0
242
0%


Glasgow
0
4,378
0%
0
4,775
0%
0
4,904
0%


Greenock
0
716
0%
0
622
0%
0
653
0%


Haddington
0
506
0%
0
569
0%
0
592
0%


Hamilton
0
2,793
0%
0
2,977
0%
0
3,030
0%


Inverness
0
1,019
0%
0
1,228
0%
0
1,269
0%


Jedburgh
0
341
0%
0
380
0%
0
401
0%


Kilmarnock
0
1,973
0%
0
2,090
0%
0
2,161
0%


Kirkcaldy
2
1,417
0%
2
1,575
0%
4
1,643
0%


Kirkcudbright
0
241
0%
0
162
0%
0
165
0%


Kirkwall
0
176
0%
0
181
0%
0
186
0%


Lanark
0
732
0%
0
735
0%
0
751
0%


Lerwick
0
246
0%
0
221
0%
0
239
0%


Linlithgow
40
1,583
3%
22
1,762
1%
20
1,804
1%


Lochmaddy
0
63
0%
0
66
0%
0
69
0%


Oban
0
251
0%
0
232
0%
0
251
0%


Paisley
0
1,607
0%
0
1617
0%
0
1,694
0%


Peebles
0
125
0%
0
142
0%
0
144
0%


Perth
1
1,039
0%
0
1,395
0%
0
1,428
0%


Peterhead
0
445
0%
0
537
0%
0
545
0%


Portree
0
50
0%
0
74
0%
0
75
0%


Rothesay
0
67
0%
0
97
0%
0
105
0%


Selkirk
0
246
0%
0
302
0%
0
316
0%


Stirling
4
796
0.5%
2
955
0%
3
1,001
0%


Stonehaven
0
366
0%
0
400
0%
0
404
0%


Stornoway
0
135
0%
0
182
0%
0
184
0%


Stranraer
0
681
0%
0
687
0%
0
691
0%


Tain
0
311
0%
0
329
0%
0
347
0%


Wick
0
228
0%
0
279
0%
0
283
0%


Total
94
43,786
0.2%
57
46,472
0.12%
47
48,031
0.10%



  

Court
2003
2004
2005


Attachment Orders
No. of fines
Attachment Orders %
Attachment Orders
No. of Fines
Attachment Orders %
Attachment Orders
No. of Fines
Attachment Orders %


Aberdeen
0
3,063
0%
2
2,518
0.08%
5
2,540
0.2%


Airdrie
0
1,478
0%
0
1,477
0%
0
1,520
0%


Alloa
0
502
0%
1
560
0.18%
0
524
0%


Arbroath
0
740
0%
0
704
0%
0
578
0%


Ayr
0
1,539
0%
0
1,429
0%
0
1,192
0%


Banff
0
367
0%
0
296
0%
0
238
0%


Campbeltown
0
162
0%
0
187
0%
0
189
0%


Cupar
0
461
0%
0
378
0%
0
385
0%


Dingwall
0
393
0%
0
363
0%
0
349
0%


Dornoch
0
114
0%
0
108
0%
0
96
0%


Dumbarton
0
992
0%
0
1,143
0%
0
1,124
0%


Dumfries
14
1,287
1.1%
6
1,862
0.32%
5
1,619
0.3%


Dundee
0
2,234
0%
1
2,158
0.05%
7
1,515
0.5%


Dunfermline
16
1,239
1.3%
2
1,107
0.18%
3
1,030
0.3%


Dunoon
0
246
0%
0
223
0%
0
213
0%


Duns
0
208
0%
0
197
0%
0
205
0%


Edinburgh
5
4,480
0.1%
14
4,340
0.32%
1
4,142
0.0%


Elgin
0
866
0%
0
954
0%
0
898
0%


Falkirk
0
1,563
0%
0
1,592
0%
0
1,231
0%


Forfar
0
606
0%
0
621
0%
6
408
1.5%


Fort William
0
221
0%
0
297
0%
0
316
0%


Glasgow
0
3,432
0%
0
3,630
0%
0
4,151
0%


Greenock
0
833
0%
0
763
0%
0
672
0%


Haddington
0
542
0%
0
448
0%
0
451
0%


Hamilton
0
2,878
0%
0
3,188
0%
0
2,936
0%


Inverness
0
1,335
0%
0
1,429
0%
0
1,238
0%


Jedburgh
0
343
0%
0
406
0%
0
420
0%


Kilmarnock
0
2,101
0%
0
2,326
0%
0
2,257
0%


Kirkcaldy
14
1,400
1.0%
43
1,419
3.03%
73
1,207
6.0%


Kirkcudbright
0
257
0%
0
238
0%
0
237
0%


Kirkwall
0
206
0%
0
192
0%
0
154
0%


Lanark
0
596
0%
0
550
0%
0
495
0%


Lerwick
0
306
0%
0
295
0%
0
232
0%


Linlithgow
43
1,457
3.0%
32
1,322
2.42%
12
1,268
0.9%


Lochmaddy
0
44
0%
0
68
0%
0
61
0%


Oban
0
262
0%
0
245
0%
0
235
0%


Paisley
0
1,592
0%
0
1,630
0%
0
1,567
0%


Peebles
0
113
0%
0
147
0%
0
153
0%


Perth
0
1,718
0%
4
1,649
0.24%
4
1,285
0.3%


Peterhead
0
557
0%
0
649
0%
0
705
0%


Portree
0
57
0%
0
87
0%
0
82
0%


Rothesay
0
68
0%
0
107
0%
0
82
0%


Selkirk
0
332
0%
0
379
0%
0
426
0%


Stirling
2
1,097
0.2%
0
1,107
0%
0
997
0%


Stonehaven
0
405
0%
0
341
0%
0
327
0%


Stornoway
0
218
0%
0
199
0%
0
201
0%


Stranraer
0
546
0%
0
666
0%
0
699
0%


Tain
0
330
0%
0
344
0%
0
284
0%


Wick
0
346
0%
0
267
0%
0
207
0%


Total
94
46,132
0.20%
105
46,605
0.23%
116
43,341
0.27%

Justice

Margaret Mitchell (Central Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how many fines were recovered by deductions from wages in each year since 1997 and what proportion these represented of the total number of fines imposed, broken down by sheriff court.

Cathy Jamieson: The information is not held centrally. Deductions from wages (arrestment of earnings) could competently be applied only in those cases where the court had ordered recovery of the fine by civil diligence from an individual. The answer to question S2W-24321 on 27 March 2006, reports on fines ordered to be recovered by civil diligence.

  All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search.

Land

Linda Fabiani (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what identifiable improvements have resulted from the allocation of the Vacant and Derelict Land Fund.

Malcolm Chisholm: It is anticipated that allocation of the Vacant and Derelict Land Fund 2004-06 will result in the reclamation and remediation of over 300 hectares of vacant and derelict land in Glasgow, North Lanarkshire and Dundee, with significant benefits for the surrounding neighbourhoods.

Livestock

Christine Grahame (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether livestock grazing takes place on farms affected by emergency prohibition orders related to the Chernobyl incident and, if so, why that livestock is considered safe for human consumption.

Lewis Macdonald: I am advised by the Food Standards Agency that restrictions resulting from the Chernobyl incident still apply to sheep on a small number of restricted farms.

  These farms are subject to statutory controls under the terms of the Food and Environment Protection Act 1985. In order to ensure food safety, all sheep leaving restricted farms are live-monitored using portable radiation monitors and any sheep exceeding the 1,000 Becquerel per kilogram (Bq/kg) control level is prohibited from entering the food chain.

NHS Staff

Gordon Jackson (Glasgow Govan) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is considers that it is essential for people with epilepsy to see a lead clinician or specialist epilepsy nurse to ensure appropriate on-going primary care.

Lewis Macdonald: The Executive recognises the importance of patients having ready access, as needed, to specialist advice. We have been working with Epilepsy Scotland, on behalf of patients, and with clinicians to develop a Managed Clinical Network approach to services for those with epilepsy, because of the way in which such networks integrate patients’ primary and specialist care needs.

NHS Staff

Gordon Jackson (Glasgow Govan) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will recommend the recruitment of specialist epilepsy nurses in each of Glasgow’s community health and social care partnerships and in community health partnerships across Scotland.

Lewis Macdonald: The planning of the workforce to deliver first class health services – including specialist epilepsy nurses – to patients in Scotland, is primarily a matter for individual NHS boards.

Non-Domestic Rates

Derek Brownlee (South of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive why the consultation document, Non Domestic Rates: Consultation on Rates Relief Scheme for Research and Development in Scotland, was not published on 11 March 2006, as previously announced by the Executive.

Mr Tom McCabe: I am still considering a number of issues raised during the preparation of the consultation document. It will be published once these have been addressed.

Non-Domestic Rates

Derek Brownlee (South of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive when the consultation document, Non Domestic Rates: Consultation on Rates Relief Scheme for Research and Development in Scotland, will be published.

Mr Tom McCabe: The consultation on a possible non-domestic rates relief scheme for research and development will be published shortly.

Older People

Ms Rosemary Byrne (South of Scotland) (SSP): To ask the Scottish Executive what criteria were used in setting up the Ageing Population Strategy Advisory Group.

Malcolm Chisholm: The members of the Advisory Group for the Strategy for a Scotland with an Ageing Population were selected on the basis of the range of skills and experience they could bring, along with the perspectives of different sectors of Scottish society.

Older People

Ms Rosemary Byrne (South of Scotland) (SSP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether Dumfries and Galloway Elderly Forum is represented on the on Ageing Population Strategy Advisory Group and, if not, why it is not so represented.

Malcolm Chisholm: Dumfries and Galloway Elderly Forum is not represented on the Advisory Group for the Strategy for a Scotland with an Ageing Population. The advisory group needed to draw together a wide range of skills, experience and interests from across Scottish society, and it has not been possible to include every organisation that may have an interest in membership. Older people’s interests from across Scotland are represented by the membership of Irene Sweeney of Scottish Pensioners Forum, Elizabeth Duncan of Help the Aged, and David Manion of Age Concern Scotland.

Poverty

Christine Grahame (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with the UK Government about the impact on targets for eradicating child poverty of amending the Scotland Act 1998, particularly in respect of giving Scottish ministers direct powers over the tax and benefits system and the setting of a national minimum wage in Scotland.

Malcolm Chisholm: The Scottish Executive remains in regular contact with the UK Government on a wide range of issues, including the eradication of child poverty. As and when contact on any issue results in agreed proposals for amending the legislative competence of the Scottish Parliament or the executive competence of the Scottish ministers, these are put to the Scottish and UK Parliaments in the normal way (i.e. either through Orders in Council under the Scotland Act 1998 , or through Legislative Consent Motions in the Scottish Parliament associated with bills before the UK Parliament).

Poverty

Christine Grahame (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to undertake a detailed independent study to determine the underlying factors which result in child poverty and what additional measures will be required to ensure that existing targets to eradicate child poverty are met.

Malcolm Chisholm: The Scottish Executive has no plans to commission an independent study into the determinants of child poverty. Extensive independent research already exists, such as the annual Joseph Rowntree Foundation/New Policy Institute report on Monitoring Poverty and Social Exclusion in Scotland .

  Poverty is a complex social issue that has no simple remedy and the Executive considers research from many different sources in determining how its policies can best tackle poverty in Scottish society. Our Closing the Opportunity Gap (CtOG) approach focuses the efforts of all Departments on tackling poverty and is consistent with, and complementary to, the UK Government’s target for eradicating child poverty within a generation.

Poverty

Christine Grahame (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how households should treat housing costs when calculating their household budgets, given the approach adopted by Scottish ministers to determine poverty levels.

Malcolm Chisholm: Households should treat housing costs as they would any other relatively, fixed item of expenditure for budgeting purposes. The Scottish Executive publishes low income thresholds on both a "before housing costs" basis and an "after housing costs" basis. This is because some people choose to spend more of their income on housing costs. An after housing costs measure therefore, would understate the relative standard of living of those individuals who were actually benefiting from a better quality of life by paying more for better accommodation. Conversely, any income measure which does not deduct housing costs will overstate the living standards of individuals whose housing costs are high relative to the quality of their accommodation.

Prescription Charges

Shona Robison (Dundee East) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether the outcomes of its review of NHS prescription charges and exemption arrangements will be enacted by primary or secondary legislation.

Lewis Macdonald: Provision for NHS prescription charges and exemption from or remission of charges is made in secondary legislation by means of regulations. The regulations involved are the NHS (Charges for Drugs and Appliances) (Scotland) Regulations and the NHS (Travelling Expenses and Remission of Charges) (Scotland) Regulations . These statutory instruments are made by the Scottish ministers in exercise of the powers conferred on them by the relevant sections of the National Health Service (Scotland) Act 1978 . Any changes to NHS prescription charging and exemption arrangements resulting from the outcomes of the review would be brought into force by amending one or both of these sets of NHS regulations.

Regeneration

Linda Fabiani (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what relationship urban regeneration companies (URCs) will have with pathfinder partnerships as referred to in its consultation on URCs.

Malcolm Chisholm: The Executive’s consultation on Urban Regeneration Companies (URCs) invited local authorities and existing local partnerships to express an interest in applying for URC Pathfinder status. Following that consultation process, on 30 June 2004 the Minister for Communities announced that Craigmillar, Raploch and Clydebank had been granted Pathfinder URC status.

  A further two URCs - in Irvine Bay and Inverclyde - were awarded "in principle" Pathfinder URC status as part of the package of measures contained in the Executive’s recent Regeneration Policy Statement: People and Place.

  In addition, however, the Executive continues to work with local authorities and their partners across the country to support their work to regenerate their communities.

Regeneration

Linda Fabiani (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether any funding provided for regeneration will be in addition to that from the Cities Growth Fund and the Vacant and Derelict Land Fund.

Malcolm Chisholm: The Executive is investing an estimated £2.4 billion up to 2008 in a range of programmes across a number of portfolios which support different aspects of regeneration. This includes the Cities Growth Fund, Vacant and Derelict Land Fund and £318 million Community Regeneration Fund but a number of other programmes are making a contribution.

Regeneration

Linda Fabiani (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how it has monitored progress on its iniatives in respect of communities since 1999.

Malcolm Chisholm: The Executive has monitored progress through the specific monitoring systems put in place for each initiative. Details of these systems and associated monitoring reports, for initiatives such as Social Inclusion Partnerships, the Better Neighbourhood Services Fund, the Community Regeneration Fund, Antisocial Behaviour and Working for Families, can be found in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre and/or on the website of the Executive or Communities Scotland.

Regeneration

Ms Rosemary Byrne (South of Scotland) (SSP): To ask the Scottish Executive how it plans to support local authorities in the regeneration of high streets.

Malcolm Chisholm: The Executive’s Regeneration Policy Statement sets out a range of actions which, as they are taken forward, will help local authorities and others take forward regeneration projects. This complements National Planning Policy Guideline 8: Town Centres and Retailing , which sets out the Executive’s clear commitment to the protection and enhancement of town centres. The Executive is also currently progressing legislation via the Planning etc (Scotland) Bill to introduce Business Improvement Districts (BIDs) to Scotland. BIDs are a partnership agreement between local businesses to invest collectively in a defined area. The Executive announced six pilot BIDs and associated funding of £500,000 on 17 March 2006.

School Transport

Fiona Hyslop (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will review the criteria for free school transport provision.

Peter Peacock: I have made clear to the Education Committee, in both written and oral evidence, my view that the statutory framework does not inhibit education authorities from adopting eligibility criteria that they consider appropriate to local circumstances.

School Transport

Fiona Hyslop (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it considers that there is a need to extend the use of attendants on school transport.

Peter Peacock: It is for education authorities to decide whether, on what routes and how to provide such attendants. The Scottish Executive’s school transport guidance makes clear the expectation that authorities will keep these matters under review.

  I acknowledged to the Education Committee on 26 October that there is a lot that we can do to highlight what has worked well in improving the situation on school buses, and said that we will work with local authorities to identify and disseminate best practice across a range of school transport issues, including the use of attendants.

Scottish Executive Publications

Christine Grahame (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what the total cost, including the preparation, illustrating, drafting, printing and distribution, was of People and Place: Regeneration Policy Statement , published in February 2006.

Malcolm Chisholm: The total cost of producing, printing and distributing the Regeneration Policy Statement: People and Place  and the  Summary  document was £32,088.

Scottish Executive Publications

Christine Grahame (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many copies of People and Place: Regeneration Policy Statement were produced.

Malcolm Chisholm: Three thousand, five hundred and five copies of the Regeneration Policy Statement: People and Place were produced. Six thousand, one hundred and two copies of the Summary document were produced.

Scottish Executive Publications

Christine Grahame (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive who received posted copies of People and Place: Regeneration Policy Statement .

Malcolm Chisholm: Two thousand, one hundred and fifty-five copies of the Regeneration Policy Statement: People and Place and the Summary document were posted to a wide range of organisations in the public, private and voluntary sectors involved in regeneration in addition to distribution by hand to the Scottish Parliament Information Centre on the day of publication. These include local authorities, the enterprise networks, academics and researchers, financial institutions, construction and other trade organisations, professional bodies and housing associations.

Scottish Executive Publications

Christine Grahame (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what the postage costs were in respect of People and Place: Regeneration Policy Statement .

Malcolm Chisholm: Postage costs for the distribution of the Regeneration Policy Statement: People and Place  and the  Summary  document were £2,744.

Scottish Executive Publications

Christine Grahame (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many copies of People and Place: Regeneration Policy Statement remain uncollected.

Malcolm Chisholm: No copies of the Regeneration Policy Statement: People and Place  and the Summary document are uncollected. Copies not posted out are being used by the Scottish Executive as part of its programme of communication and discussion on regeneration in Scotland, as foreshadowed in the Statement itself.

Scottish Executive Publications

Christine Grahame (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what it plans to do with unused copies of People and Place: Regeneration Policy Statement .

Malcolm Chisholm: Copies not posted out are being used by the Scottish Executive as part of its programme of communication and discussion on regeneration in Scotland, as foreshadowed in the statement itself.

Scottish Executive Publications

Christine Grahame (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will list all documents published on behalf of the Minister for Communities in each year since 1999, broken down by (a) date of issue, (b) print run, (c) production costs, (d) postage costs and (e) unused copies.

Malcolm Chisholm: The roles and responsibilities of the Communities portfolio have altered several times since 1999 and the information requested is not readily available and could only be obtained at disproportionate cost.

Vaccinations

Carolyn Leckie (Central Scotland) (SSP): To ask the Scottish Executive, in light of a recent report that Dr Peter Fletcher, former Chief Scientific Officer at the Department of Health and Assessor to the Committee on the Safety of Medicines, previously responsible for deciding whether new vaccines were safe, believes that at least part of the "extremely worrying increase" in inflammatory bowel disease and immune disorders among children "is highly likely" to be a vaccine related problem (a) what urgent action is planned to prioritise the comprehensive gastro-enterological examination of autistic children and (b) how many research projects have been authorised by the Chief Scientist and/or the Medical Research Council into the link between MMR and bowel disease or autism since 1998, what funding such projects have received and who their lead authors are.

Lewis Macdonald: (a) Children with autism spectrum disorders should have their health needs, including any gastroenterological problems, addressed in the same way as anyone else. It is up to patients or parents to discuss with individual clinicians what symptoms mean and how they can best be investigated and treated.

  (b) The Chief Scientist Office has not funded any research projects on autism or bowel disease and the MMR vaccine since 1998. The Medical Research Council has funded one research project carried out by Professor Andy Hall at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine at a cost of £364,000. The results from the study concluded that there was no evidence to support a link between MMR and the subsequent development of autism. The findings of this project were published in The Lancet in September 2004.